Ohio usually processes pretty quickly! I filed my state return there last month and got my direct deposit in exactly 7 business days. The Ohio Department of Taxation has a "Check My Refund Status" tool on their website that's super helpful - you just need your SSN and refund amount. Since you just got accepted today, I'd expect to see movement within the next week or so. Direct deposit is definitely the way to go compared to waiting for a paper check!

Ohio is actually one of the better states for refund processing! I've been doing taxes for clients there for years and typically see direct deposits hitting accounts within 7-10 business days after acceptance. Since yours was just accepted today, you're looking at probably next week sometime. The nice thing about Ohio is they're pretty consistent - not like some states where it can vary wildly. Just keep an eye on your bank account and maybe check the Ohio tax website's refund tracker in a few days if you want peace of mind!

My state refund hit exactly 36 hours after the website updated to "sent" last week. I'm one of those people who tracks everything in a spreadsheet 📊 (yes, I know, I'm that person, lol). Over the past 3 years, it's been pretty consistent - state refunds take 1-3 business days after the "sent" status. Unless you filed by paper... then all bets are off! 😅

I'm dealing with the same waiting game right now! My state portal updated to "sent" on Friday and I'm still refreshing my banking app every few hours. Based on what everyone's saying here, it sounds like 1-3 business days is pretty normal. I think the hardest part is that "sent" doesn't necessarily mean it left their system that exact day - could have been queued for the next ACH batch. Trying to stay patient but when you're expecting that money for bills, every day feels like forever! 😅

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation with my freelance graphic design business - using my sedan for client meetings and my van for equipment transport to larger events. One thing I learned the hard way is that you need to be consistent year over year with whichever method you choose for each vehicle. I made the mistake of switching methods for my van in year two without realizing there were depreciation recapture implications when you switch FROM actual expenses TO standard mileage. Also, for anyone considering the actual expense method - don't forget about depreciation! It's often the biggest deduction component but easy to overlook. You can use either straight-line depreciation or Section 179 expensing depending on your situation. I use TaxAct's depreciation worksheet which walks you through it step by step. The key is really keeping separate, detailed records for each vehicle from day one. I use a simple spreadsheet with tabs for each vehicle and method, and it's saved me so much headache come tax time.

This is such a valuable discussion! As someone who's been through multiple IRS audits with vehicle deductions, I want to emphasize a few critical points that could save you major headaches: First, the IRS is absolutely fine with using different methods for different vehicles - I've had this confirmed directly by three different IRS agents over the years. The key is CONSISTENCY within each vehicle and SEPARATION of records. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the importance of documenting your business use percentage calculation methodology. Don't just say "60% business use" - show HOW you calculated that. I keep a simple log showing total miles driven vs business miles for the first few months of each tax year to establish my percentage, then apply that consistently. Also, for those considering switching methods - be very careful about depreciation recapture rules if you've been using actual expenses. I learned this the expensive way when I tried to switch my delivery truck from actual to standard mileage in year 3. The IRS treated all my previous depreciation deductions as "recaptured income" and I owed taxes on it. My recommendation: pick your method wisely from the start and stick with it. Keep immaculate records regardless of which method you choose. And consider getting professional help at least for your first year to establish the proper framework - it's much cheaper than fixing mistakes later!

Does anyone know if TurboTax handles Form 8949 and Schedule D correctly for loss carryovers? Last time I used it, it seemed confused by my carryover amount.

Just wanted to add my experience since I was in almost the exact same situation last year. I had $4,200 in long-term capital losses from just 3 stock sales and was also confused about the forms. You definitely need both Form 8949 AND Schedule D - there's no way around it. Form 8949 is where you list each individual transaction with all the details (purchase date, sale date, cost basis, proceeds, etc.), and Schedule D is where you summarize everything and calculate your total loss. For your $4,500 loss, you'll deduct $3,000 against ordinary income this year and carry forward $1,500 to next year. The carryover works indefinitely until you use it all up - doesn't matter if you don't trade stocks in 2025, you can still claim that $1,500 loss. One tip: double-check that your 1099-B shows the correct cost basis. My broker had the wrong purchase date on one of mine, which would have messed up my long-term vs short-term classification. Caught it just in time!

I think everyone's overlooking something important - doesn't this depend on whether the bar dues are required as a condition of employment? At our company, we add professional dues to W-2 income if the membership is technically optional, even if it's strongly encouraged.

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who handles payroll for a large firm. We've been paying bar dues directly for our attorneys for years without including them on W-2s, and we've never had any issues with IRS audits or inquiries. The key documentation we maintain is a simple policy stating that we pay for professional licenses and memberships that are necessary for employees to perform their job duties. For attorneys, this obviously includes state bar dues and any specialized bar sections relevant to their practice areas. One thing I'd suggest is to make sure your payroll system properly codes these payments so they're clearly identified as working condition fringe benefits rather than just general business expenses. This makes it easier if you ever need to demonstrate to the IRS that these weren't intended as additional compensation to the employees. Also, remember that this treatment applies to other licensed professionals too - if you have paralegals with certifications, accountants with CPA licenses, etc., the same rules generally apply to their professional dues and licensing fees.